Maruti Suzuki is bringing the Suzuki Jimny to India

There’s good news for those of you who loved and still cherish the Gypsy brand as it will soon get an overhaul with the Jimny. Yes, the Jimny will be manufactured right here in Gujarat, India by Maruti Suzuki, both for local sale and exports.

According to CarandBike , the Jimny SUV is slated for a 2017 launch, which is not too far away. More importantly, the Jimny will be based on the same platform as the Baleno and will serve as a base platform for the upcoming Ignis as well.

Going back to basics, the Gypsy, which was popular back in the 1980s, is still being manufactured by Maruti Suzuki today. The Gypsy was based on the 3rd generation Suzuki Jimny and basically features an extended wheelbase. The vehicle when launched was more popular with the armed forces than the average consumer.

Poor fuel consumption and horrible rear seat comfort meant that the vehicle was too rugged for the road but perfect for the army. It’s a very old model however, and it has started to show its age.The Indian Army too seems to have given up on it.

With the Gypsy almost out, the Jimny may make for an alternative with better creature comforts. The size of the Jimny is a bit controversial though. It’s got a much shorter wheelbase than the Gypsy, which should translate to better off-road capabilities but less room in the cabin. Maruti Suzuki’s pricing strategy is yet to be revealed.